Influence of post-harvest residue management and cultivar on tiller dynamics and seed yield in timothy

Timothy (Phleum pratense L.) is a bunch-type cool season perennial grass species grown in Manitoba primarily for seed production. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of post-harvest residue management (straw removal-SR, straw and stubble removal-SSR and fall burning-Burn) on tiller production, yield components and seed yield of five timothy cultivars (Basho, Climax, Goliath, Hokuo and Salvo), and to better understand the association between yield components and final seed yield in timothy crops grown in the dry subhumid region of the Canadian prairies. Two experiments were conducted over four production seasons at Arborg, MB and one production season at St. Claude, MB. Tiller number per m 2 in spring (TS) and at harvest (THV) were measured in 1990 at St. Claude and in 1990 and 1991 at Arborg. Residue management (RM) treatment ranking for TS was Burn